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As its name suggests, in Double Exposure Blackjack both the cards of the dealer are dealt face up. Double Exposure Blackjack is offered in Microgaming online casinos. Some other online gaming software providers offer very similar games under the name Face Up 21.

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Double Exposure Blackjack Introduction

The fact that the player can see both the cards of the dealer makes a difference in the way he plays. In normal blackjack no player will hit if his hand value is 18. However in Double Exposure Blackjack if the dealer has a hand value of 20, the player has to hit. If he draws a 3 and reaches 21 he wins. If he does not, he would have lost anyway. This additional chance that the player is compelled to take offers him a tremendous advantage. The playing field is leveled by offering a payout of only even money on the player’s blackjack instead of the usual payout of 3 to 2.

Double Exposure Blackjack Rules

Because both the cards of the dealer are exposed upfront certain blackjack moves become redundant in Double Exposure Blackjack. One of these is the player taking insurance against the dealer’s blackjack and the other is the dealer checking for blackjack. Neither of these moves is followed in Double Exposure Blackjack. After the player places his wager two cards are dealt face up to the player and two cards are dealt face up to the dealer. The player immediately begins to make his moves.

Double Exposure Blackjack has special rules for the double and split moves. Players can double only on hard totals of 9, 10 and 11. Players can double after splitting hands. Players can re-split each hand once after splitting and can therefore play up to four hands. Aces can be re-split but only one card can be dealt to split aces. A split the ace and a 10 value card count as a total of 21 and not as a blackjack. Players can also split unlike cards having a value of 10, such as a queen and a jack. Players have to place additional wages for the double and split moves. In Double Exposure Blackjack the dealer hits on a soft 17.

The comparison of hands is also slightly different in Double Exposure Blackjack as compare to the usual blackjack game. Tied hands do not push. The dealer wins all ties except for a tied blackjack. This is compensated for by the player winning tied blackjacks. All wins pay even money.

The important aspects of Double Exposure Blackjack strategy are discussed below. If the dealer’s two card total is 18 or more than the dealer will not draw any additional card. In such an event the player’s strategy has to be to keep hitting till his total exceeds that of the dealer. When the dealer’s two card total is between 12 and 16 he will have to draw one more card and has a good chance of busting. In such an event the player must not hit if he has a possibility of busting. It is better to stand and let the dealer take the risk.